Lubricated roller



Nov. 8, 1955 w. C. CARROLL 2;723168 L BRICATED ROLLER Filed Sept. 25,1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIVVENTOR. W/LLIIMI CRA/6 C/IEIPOZL United Statesatent thee LIIBRICATED ROLLER William Craig Carroll, Portland, Greg.Application September 25, 1951, Serial No. 248,237

1 Claim. (Cl. 308-109) This invention relates primarily to a noveldesign of track tractor roller generally employed with track layingtractors, or military vehicles, and uses a circuiting lubrication systemthat does not require a force feed pump. This new track tractor rolleremploys elastomer lip-type seals with large lubricant storage capacitywithin the shell of the track tractor roller, to permit storage andcirculation of lubricant therethrough with a slight extrusion oflubricant past the lip-type seals, to flow away particles of dirt whichmay become embedded between the seal and the axie.

Further features of this track tractor roller include a circulation ofthe lubricant under a pressure differential from the large lubricantreservoirs radially inward to the bearing surface and outward throughlow pressure channels adjacent to the fixed portion of the shaft, toreturn to the lubricant reservoirs. Thus it may be seen that this noveldesign of track tractor roller employs a type of construction with morethan the usual lubricant capacity, together with lubricant circulation.The cut-away portions in the bearing carrier members in addition toannular lubricant reservoirs within the shell of the track tractorroller provide large storage capacity which dows to the bearing surfaceand returns to the reservoirs by means of radial channels in the bearingilanges through lubricant ways in the bearing carrier members to thereservoirs.

An object of this invention is to produce a relatively low pressuretrack tractor roller which has large lubricant capacity within theroller and provides for circulation of this lubricant, together with aslight extrusion of lubricant past a seal to the exterior.

A further object of this invention is to provide a track tractor rollerwhich will effectively control the flow Of lubricant from lubricantreservoirs within the roller and Will provide for circulation of thelubricant. Other objects will be apparent from a detailed study of theinvention which follows, but the invention consists in certain novelfeatures in construction and combination of parts, which will be readilyunderstood by those Skilled in the art to which the inventionappertains.

In the drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a fragrrientary detailed view showing a longitudinal crosssection of the track tractor roller,

Fig. 2 is a detailed view in perspective of a bearing carrierand-bearing carrier member with a quarter section cut away to show theconstruction of those members,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detailed view in perspective of the double liplubricant seal of this invention,

Fig. 4 is a partial cross sectional view along the lines 4-4 of Fig. 1,showing the arrangement of the parts, particularly in the vicinity ofthe lubricant reservoirs, and

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showingthe end view of the bearing members and the lubricant passageway.

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a track tractorroller having a double lianged roller or outer CTI housing member 10,having circular ilanges 11 and 12 and outer flanges 13 and 14. Theroller encompasses a non-rotating axle 15 which has an enlarged centerthrust portion 16, and is secured to the track frame, not shown, byouter end mounting blocks 17 and inner mounting block 18. The rolleranti aXle are joined by a seal and Seal housing 19 and 20 respectively,which is bolted to the roller 10 through the bearing carrierrnember' 21.Upon the bearing carrier members, of which there are two, there is aflanged bearing 22 which has a center flange 23 abutting the enlargedportion 16 of the aXle 15- Within the roller 10 there are annularlubricant reser- Voirs designated '24 with a central lubricant reservoir25 Of lesser storage capacity. Connected to the larger lubricantreservoir 24 are cut-away portions in the bearing carrier member 21 andthese are shown at 36. There are usually four of these cut-away portionsin each bearing carrier member, which provide increased lubricant supplyWithout Weakening, the structure of the bearing carrier member, whileproviding passageways through the bearing 22 to the bearing surface.

Lubricant supply is provided to these reservoirs and the bearing surfaceby means of a passageway or lubricant channel in the axle 27, and thispassageway is connected by means of alubricating fitting 28 and a checkvalve generally designated 29 consisting of a ball 30 and spring 31. TheSpring abuts against an enlarged portion of the lubricant channel 27. Ifby chance, the lubricant litting should be accidentally knocked ott, thelubricant within the system will not be discharged since the ball willclose a reduced portion within the socket. This ball and socket,however, will not prevent the addition of lubricant at periodicintervals to replenish that which may be lost past the Sealingarrangement. Brieily then at this point it should be stated thatlubricant passes along the center of the axle in the lubricant channel27 'and radially outward through another channel at 32 to a lubricantreservoir 25. From this point the lubricant may pass along lubricantpassageway 33 in the bearing carrier member to the enlarged lubricantreservoir 24. The de tails Of the circulation of the lubricant will beexplained in connection with the description of the detailed views ofthis track tractor roller and its component parts.

Fig. 2 shows a detailed view in perspective of the bearing and bearingcarrier member having a quarter section cut from the members to disclosethe details of construction. Brieily bearing carrier member 21 has anaxial portion and a flanged portion, the latter designated 34. Axialholes are provided in this ilanged portion as for example at 35, and capscrews are mounted through the Seal housing 20 into the track tractorroller 10 .to secure the bearing and bearing carrier member to theroller. In the bearing carrier member .there are cut-away portions 36which connect from the external axial portion to the bearing 22. Thebearing member 22 has a flanged portion 23, which is secured to thebearing carrier member by means of dowels, as for eX- ample at 37. T0provide means for the lubricant to pass from the lubricant reservoirs 24and 25, through the cut-away portion 36 of the bearing carrier there areopenings 38 in bearing member 22 to permit this ilow of lubricant. Onthe flanged Surface 23 of the bearing member 22, there are a pluralityof lubricant grooves designated 39 and 40, which connect atdiametrically opposite positions preferably to lubricant passageways 33-These lubricant grooves 39 and 40 are arcuately shaped and permit theilow Of lubricant from the bearing surface outwardly along the face ofthe bearing adjacentto the center thrust portion 16 of the axle 15, andin the vicinity of this axle may be considered tobe a low pressure area,since the aXle is stationary. As such lubricant will travel to this areaand be forced out- Patented Nov. 8, "l9'l 'B n.' wardly of the bearingsurface to the central lubricant reservoir 25 and will llow through thelubricant passage- Ways, of which there are at least four, though onlylubricant passageway 33 is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Thisexplanation of the bearing and bearing carrier members should besuliicient when taken with the details described in connection With Fig.l. It will be Supplemented, however, by the description in connectionWith Figs. 4 and 5, about to be described.

Fig. 4 is 'a cross-sectional view through a quarter section of the tracktractor roller, showing the outer shell or roller li and the lubricantreservoir 2 6 which is 'annular in Shape and connected to the bearingsurface through at least four distinct points. Along the surface of thebearing carrier member 21 there are cutaway portions 36, which aredirectly connected to this annularly shaped lubritiant reservoir. Thesecut-away portions in the bearing carriers provide some lubricant storageand tunnel the lubricant to the bearing surface by means of openings 38,which permit the lubricant to liow from the annular lubricant reservoir24 to the bearing surface. This bearing surface is designated at 41, andthe top portion of the aitle is llattened at 42 to permit the passage oflubricant from the opening in the bearing 38 to all surfaces of thebearing along this axial lubricant passage on the top side of the axle.It is readily apparent from the construction of this roller that theaxle is stationary, since it is firmly mounted to the track tractorframe, while the roller rotates around the axle and on its under side isin contact With the track of the track laying vehicle, and supports theweight of the tractor.

A further partial cross-sectional view Of this track tractor roller isshown in connection with Fig. 5, which is an enlarged cross section ofaxle 15, looking to the left of this view and facing the lianged portion23 Of the bearing. The axle 15 is shown With its lubricant channel 27and its tiattened portion -2. The bearing itself i.s bevelled at 43 andprovides 'a small annular charnber to permit improved flow of lubricantto channels 39 and 40. These channels connect the bearing surfaces andthe central reservoir and permit the flow Of lubricant outwardly alongthe channels in contact with the stationary enlarged portion of the axleresulting in a low pressure area. The lubricant flows out- Wardly alongthis groove to the central lubricant reser- Voir 25 by the pressure ofthe lubricant on the bearing surface. Those channels connect to thebearing carrier inember at 34, to permit the lubricant to flow directlyinto the Ways the bearing carrier member Shown at 33.

'`t -spacecl intervals around the surface of the bearing carrier-rnernber, there are additional passageways to permit l'uhricant to flowfrom the central lubricant reservoir 25 to the outer and larger annularreservoir 24.

reservo-ir is only 'one of t'ello since there is a duplic'ate on theopposite side of the roller mounted radially outwardly of the Otherbearing and bearing carrier mernlirs, Fr`orn these facts it should beclear that lubricant flows in a `natural passage from the annularlubricant re servoir 24 under the pressure of the revolving rolleraudits accompanying force inwardly through the bearing and bearingcarrier member to the axle of the track tractor roller. From this pointpart of the lubricant. flow s outwardly, that is, to the endsof the axleand the end of the tlattened portion 42, which extends only part way tothe seal 19. It is still possible for lubricant to how butwardly to thevicinity of the seal, and in practice i t does because of the Clearancebetween the aixle 'and the bearing. Only a relatively small quantity oflubricnt flows through this channel, however, and it passes beneath thelips of theseal to flow away articles of: diirt which nlay bec orneembedded therebe neath. The detailsof this sealing arrangement will be'described in connection with Fig. 3.

Another 'riortion of the lubricant flows airially inward Nil alongflattened portion 42 of the airle to the lubricant grooves 39 and ill,then to the central reservoir 25 'and passageways 33, to return to thelarge lubricant reser- Voir 24. For replenishmeirt of lubricant, thelubricant is added to the litting 28 on the axle and passes alongpassageway 27 out the radial passage 32 to the lubricant reservoir 25,to begin its circulation Within the track tractor roller.

A preferred type of lubricant seal for use With this track tractorroller is 'Shown in Fig. 3. In this view is a metallic ring having aretaining flan`ge 51 radially inwardly toward the shaft. Securely bondedto the retaining llange is a fibrous Sealing 'ring 52 of elastoinermaterial, annular in shape but -Lshaped in cross section, having acentral lip 53, which is inclined away from. the retaining liange 51 andoutwardly of the track tractor roller. Thus it may be seen that thelubricant Will extrude past the Sealing ring 52 and its central lip 553.Outwardly of this lower part of the L 'there is 'a grooved portion 57,behind which is munted a coil spring 58. At the larger diameter Of thelthere is aprojection 54, which tits into a complementary groove behindthe retaining liange 51 and the metallic ring 50. At the smallerdiameter of the retaining flange and on th: inside surface thereof,there is a small cut-away portion 55, into which the heel of theL-shaped ring is designed to lit. This prevents the lubricant fromllowing radially outward along the gap between the elastomer Sealingring 52 and the retaining flange 51, and provides a tight contacttherebetween. The central lip 53 has a conical portion 56 directed awayfrom the retaining liange -51, which will flex with the flow oflubricant past the seal. The above mentioned portion S6 contacts theShaft through the lip 53 and is stiffened by a spring 58 against thegrooved rear 'surfaceof the ring at 57.

Thus it may be seen that this lubricant seal perrnits `a slightextrusion of lubricant past the seal, which will cause any dirtparticles which may become embedded beneath the elastomer ring, to flowaway. This elastomer Seal is particularly Useful With hardened typeCrankshafts and cannot cause dirt to become impacted against thelubricant seals, forcirig them into the shaft with an abrasive action.Ordinarily about 14 pounds of lubricant pressure may be retain`ed Withina track tractor roller With this Sealing arrangement and this issuilicierit to carry the track tractor roller over long periods of`rough usage Without the 'extru'sion of such great quantities oflubricaint that the lubricaht capacity of the roller has been exhausted.

In addition to this Sealing ring there is a second ring or Washerofelastorner material spaced outwardly from the Sealing ring 52, Thissecond ring, 59 is supported by an annularly shaped ring 60, which isapproximately parallel to the retainirig flange 51. An extension of thisring passes radialy parallel to metallic ring 50 and binds the top oftheL-Shaped sealingring 52 into the cutaway portion between the fetainingflange and the metallic ring. Outwardly of thesealing ring 59 there is aShaped groove -62 completely encircling the seal. This double lip typeelastorner seal ermits a slight extrusion of l ubricant past the tworings 52 and 59, which flows away dirt froin beneath the rings andbetween the shaft. The outer lip 59 particularly acts to exclude dirtand is unprotected. By this I mean that it has no outer housing memberWhich extends in close roximity to the shaft though housing member 20does extend to the edge of the annular groove exteriorally of the seal.Thus no dirt or grit can force against the outer surface of this lip toforce it into the shaft and v ear grooves therein.

This -inventionmay be emboclied in other-specific forms Withoutdeparting -from the spirit or esesntial characteristics thereof.Thepresent embodiment are, therefore, to be considered in all respectsas illustrtaive and "not restrictive, the scope of the -irivention beingindicated by the appended clairnsrather than by the foregoingdescriptien, and al1 changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are, therefore, intended to be embracedtherein.

I claim:

In a roller for endless track type vehicles, a nonrotating axle having acenter thrust portion, a supporting roller, a pair of iianged bearingmembers forming confronting bearing surfaces With said axle as Well asWith the center thrust portion thereof on either side of the centerthrust portion, bearing carrier members supporting said iianged bearingmembers, said flanged bearing members lying between the axle and roller,a seal and seal housings between the said roller and said axle on eachof the outer ends of the bearing carrier members, said seal beingunprotected in the immediate vicinity of said axle and being of the liptype to permit a slight extrusion of lubricant past said seal, saidroller having a plurality of axially spaced annular cavities on theinner surface thereof forming large reservoirs, said bearing carriermembers having a plurality of circumterentially spaced cavities orreservoirs formed therein arranged in opposed and connectingrelationship with said cavities in the roller to form complementarylubricant reservoirs,

connections for lubricant through said bearing carrier members andthrough the iianged bearing members to the bearing surfaces of the aXle,said roller having a central reservoir outwardly disposed from saidcenter thrust portion of the axle, said axle having flat portions on thetop surface thereof to provide lubricant passages along the majorportion of said axle bearing surfaces, said flanged bearing membershaving grooves connecting with said flattened portions of the axle tosaid central reservoir whereby the lubricant is caused to flow from thelubricant reservoirs through the cavities in the bearing carrier membersand through the iianged bearing members to the bearing surfaces andalong the iiattened portions of the axle to the grooves and to thecentral reservo1r.

References Cited in the file of this atent OTHER REFERINCES 20 2,054,532Baker Sept. 15, 1936 2,259,648 Lucas Oct. 21, 1941 2,351,909 BeretishJune 20, 1944

